From Walkerwood Dam, up Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw, then back across Harridge Moor, in brisk, chilly conditions (to say the least )

1 Willow Tit on the feeders at Walkerwood. On Thursday morning, I heard one calling, with a mixed finch and tit flock, deeper into the country park, around half a mile away from the area of the feeders, where I usually see it. I have still only ever seen a single bird, four and a half years since my initial sighting.

Higher Swineshaw and Harridge Moor

1 Woodcock was flushed (unfortunately, given the subzero conditions), from beneath a pylon on the very top of the moor, at 10.00am.1 Raven over, towards Carrbrook 1 Kestrel over Swineshaw Moor4 Red Grouse flushed from Harridge Moor, flew dramatically, high over Brushes Reservoir, onto Cock Knarr, Wild Bank

1 Woodcock over the feeders, from the direction of the country park, into Cock Wood, at 7.22amTawny Owls hooting and calling from Cock Wood, the Country Park, and the trees lining the northern side of Walkerwood Reservoir. Difficult to put a number on them, as they are mobile. I would estimate one male in the Country Park, and up to four around Walkerwood, two males with different songs, and two females heard more or less simultaneously. A lot of Redwing overhead most mornings, well before it is light.

1 Woodcock over the southern end of Walkerwood Dam, from the direction of the country park, towards Cock Wood, at 7.15. 3 Tawny Owls. Two birds hooting - in the country park, and at Cock Wood; the third calling from the trees on the northern side of the reservoir. 26 Canada Geese on the reservoir.

2 Woodcock, at 7.06 and 7.10am. Both flew from the direction of Millbrook, one over the reservoir to Cock Wood, the second into the trees on the north side of Walkerwood Reservoir. 1 Tawny Owl hooting from Cock Wood

From Walkerwood Dam, up Brushes Valley, and to the far end of Higher Swineshaw Reservoir.

3 Woodcock. Birds have been returning to roost at 7.00am this week, so I timed this morning to be in Brushes SBI at this hour, because on a working day, I havent enough time to get back from this far up the valley. I was rewarded with two birds flying from Walkerwood direction at 7.00, into the woods, and another at 7.05, from Lower Swineshaw, into Brushes quarry. Since the autumn influx, I have recorded them all along the valley, from the country park, as far as Lower Swineshaw.

I should have called it a day there and then. The rest of the morning was deathly, with an icy, buffeting wind from Lower Swineshaw upwards cancelling the planned return across Harridge Moor.

A flock of c150 Fieldfare and c30 Redwing moving around, at one point chasing a pair of Kestrels, accompanied by several noisy Mistle Thrush 1 Song Thrush singing Several Nuthatch 1 Willow Tit on the feeders, calling loudly this week

2 Woodcock, both from the direction of Cote Farm, flew along the northern side of Walkerwood Reservoir, then over towards Cock Wood, within a minute of each other, at 7.02. 12+ Blackbirds Several Robins flying around in the dark

2 Woodcock; one down the side of the reservoir, into the country park, at 7.01, the second over Harridge from the direction of Millbrook, across the reservoir, towards Cock Wood, two minutes later. 1 Buzzard over Harridge 1 Kestrel in its usual roost spot.

From Walkerwood Reservoir, up Brushes Valley, to Lees Hill, then back across Harridge Moor.

The first sighting was before first light, when a Buzzard soared over the woods, then across the valley, to Wild Bank1 Woodcock, at 6.55am, into the woods on Harridge, from Walkerwood direction. 1 Jack Snipe was flushed from the edge of Boar Flat, opposite Lees Hill1 Mandarin drake swimming with 3 Mallard, on Lower Swineshaw Reservoir1 Kestrel at Higher Swineshaw, as well as 2 Ravensc 25 Red Grouse, on Swineshaw and Harridge MoorsA similar number of Meadow Pipits, in the same areasOne pair of Stonechat, high up on Harridge Moor, a regular breeding site. Presumably staying the winter. A few Redwing were in the hawthorn bushes near Walkerwood Dam, as well as a Buzzard, which had half a dozen Magpies for company.

A lot of Fieldfare and Redwing movement at first light, with flocks of up to 150 Fieldfare, and 30 Redwing overhead. There seems to be a static population of around 100 Fieldfare and 30 Redwing feeding in the general area, particularly on the Harridge side. A Peregrine putting in a couple of appearances over Harridge Up to 3 Kestrel over Harridge Several Nuthatch around Brushes Valley 30+ Chaffinch down the valley shortly after dawn each morning12 Lesser Redpoll down the valley on Monday morning A couple of Siskin heard only around Brushes Cottages The weeks most unusual sighting was of a Red-legged Partridge perched on the roof of Brushes Cottages at 7.00am on Monday!

2 Woodcock flew over Walkerwood Dam and into the Country Park at 7.18 and 7.20am, my first sighting since midsummer. Given the location, I would guess at recently arrived migrants, rather than resident birds, although it is obviously impossible to say for sure.

6 Red-legged Partridge were in the fields on Harridge, overlooking Walkerwood, on Sunday.

1 Mandarin drake swimming with 12 Mallard 1 Cormorant 4 Mistle Thrush over1 Chiffchaff A very noisy group of 20+ Long-tailed Tits. I never tire of watching this species - such beautiful, delicate little birds. 6+ Goldcrest. Seems to have been an influx. 1 Lesser Redpoll Bullfinch Chaffinch Good numbers of Robin and Wren

A small flock of Redwing passed west over Walkerwood Dam at 7.20pm2 Tawny Owls calling, from Cock Wood, and the woods above the Gamekeeper's cottage, at dusk. Female Kestrel hunting from a telephone wire next to Walkerwood Dam just before dark.

A solitary Redwing dropped into the treetops around Lower Swineshaw scout hut. Seen off immediately by two Mistle Thrush. 6 Reed Bunting15+ Meadow Pipits 1 Kestrel Several Goldcrest calling from the woodsNuthatch calling along the valley

Several Pied Wagtails heard around the Cock Knarr side of Brushes Reservoir at 6.30pm. This area has held a winter roost in the past. 14 Mallard on the reservoir.

From Stocks Lane up to the Trig Point via Wildbank
Lower down 2 Swallows, 3 Jay, 1 Mistle Thrush and 3 Red-legged Partridge
Higher up 1 Kestrel, 1 Red Grouse and what I would expect must be the same two Raven in Davids post from earlier today

-- Edited by Stuart Pike on Saturday 29th of September 2018 07:18:46 PM

2 Stonechat, my first of 2018 in the area, following the disappearance this year of the regular breeding pair. These appeared to be a first year male and female. 100+ Meadow Pipits c 25 Skylark, the majority of which dropped in from the north around 10 o'clock 1 Linnet over south1 Buzzard 1 Red Grouse

1 female / juvenile Merlin low over the moor from the direction of the Trig Point, down Gallows Clough, having a go at flushed Meadow Pipits150+ Meadow Pipits, everywhere this morning10+ Skylarks1 Great Spotted Woodpecker perched up on a pylon, on top of the moor, called, then flew off southwest. 1 Rook1 Little Owl

Also stumbled across a Lesser Spotted Roger Baker, loitering on Hobson Moor Road.

1 Kingfisher on the exposed depth gauge posts near the dam. Only ever an occasional record here - almost always in September. ........................................................................................................Just thinking about that one Dave ....... in the past Walkerwood has always been a fly only Trout fishery on a "put and take" basis with the fish being to big for a Kingfisher.Now that an angling club has stocked it with coarse fish things might improve especially if they breed with plenty of fry in the margins ??

Roger.

__________________

Blessed is the man who expecteth little reward ..... for he shall seldom be disappointed.

House Martins started moving over Walkerwood Reservoir at 6.55, pausing , then heading roughly south west. A rough estimate would be 150, with about 10 Swallows mixed in. Still birds passing through as I left. 3 Grey Herons 1 Cormorant A flock of c 20 Goldfinch 1 Grey Wagtail

-- Edited by David Walsh on Wednesday 5th of September 2018 07:57:03 AM

5 Spotted Flycatchers, a pair feeding at least three fledglings, one of which was being fed on the ground, with a possibly injured wing. 3 Buzzards, one over Harridge Moor, a juvenile at Wild Bank, and a juvenile perched within 100 yards of the houses at Brushes Road2 juvenile Kestrels over Harridge Moor, and a male at Higher Swineshaw 1 male Stonechat at Higher Swineshaw, and a female with a juvenile at Harridge Moor 24 Red Grouse counted on Harridge and Swineshaw Moorsc 30 Meadow Pipits 30 House Martin feeding over the valley 2 Raven at Walkerwood 52 Black-headed Gulls on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir Good numbers of juvenile Dunnock around the moors

100+ each, of Swallows and House Martins feeding over the moor A Willow Warbler feeding at least two fledglings in the bracken, a few others singing. 10+ Coal Tits calling in the trees, very much in evidence in all the wooded areas at present. 1 Nuthatch 4 Treecreepers, with more callingSeveral noisy Jays 1 Kestrel over Harridge 4 Kestrel, looking like a family group, noisily around Lower Swineshaw dam1 Buzzard perched over at Wild Bank

Walkerwood Reservoir.

1 Cormorant 1 Grey Heron, present constantly at the moment. A juvenile bird has also been seen on a couple of mornings over the past week 1 Grey Wagtail 1 Pied Wagtail 2 Moorhen

Yesterday, around Higher Swineshaw.

No waders at all42 Black-headed Gulls1 juvenile Grey Wagtail 2 Pied Wagtails 3 Mallard 1 Reed Bunting flushed from low in the bracken on the track towards Irontongue, the only one seen or heard. This species seems to have disappeared from the area since the fire, despite their territories (at least half a dozen) being in areas of bracken around the reservoir untouched by the fire. I can only assume it is due to the disturbance caused by the firefighting machinery and personnel?One pair of Stonechat with at least 2 juveniles at Lees HillAt least 6 Lesser Redpoll between Higher and Lower Swineshaw 1 Linnet c 35 Meadow Pipits on Higher Swineshaw dam banking

c 60 Swift. 10 feeding over the country park area, and c 50 moving through south west4 House Martins through south west

I reinstated the feeders last week, and have had regular sightings once more, of the Willow Tit. The other species which has visited regularly is the Nuthatch, which is very evident at present, all around the valley. They seem to have had a successful breeding season. A single Common Sandpiper was the only wader present at Higher Swineshaw Reservoir on Tuesday evening.

It's amazing the difference a muddy shoreline makes. All four reservoirs in the valley are stone-lined, and poor for waders, other than Common Sandpiper, which breed here. A combination of low rainfall, and (mainly) a vast quantity of water being pumped out of Higher Swineshaw Reservoir, to douse the recent moorland fire, has meant that the water level is the lowest that anyone can remember, giving a muddy shoreline to the entire reservoir, save for the dam itself.

2 Common Sandpiper, an agitated adult, and a well grown juvenile. They were late breeding this year, but this is a breeding record that I thought I'd missed, due to the recent access restrictions in the valley. Good to see. c 30 Meadow Pipits feeding around the dam banking 1 Pied Wagtail 1 Buzzard on the shoreline 5 Lesser Redpoll around the scout hut

Higher Swineshaw, and environs

4 Stonechat, a family party of a pair, plus at least two juveniles in the bracken, towards Lees Hill4 Common Sandpiper c 60 Black-headed Gulls3 Lapwing flew over Lees Hill, from the direction of Arnfield, and dropped in briefly, before continuing west40+ Meadow Pipits, mainly, as at Lower Swineshaw, around the dam banking2 Pied Wagtails, an adult and well grown juvenile 3 Blackbirds, one carrying food into bracken, right at the edge of the burned Moor1 Goldfinch 2 Lesser Redpoll in the bracken1 Buzzard

Brushes Valley

6+ Treecreeper, calling everywhere, and feeding in twos, presumably young birds?Several Coal Tits, a mix of adults and juveniles, one carrying food

It has surprised me how much wildlife has remained in such a bleak and totally destroyed habitat to be honest David.

I have removed several toads from the moor, Meadow Pipits still wander around the scorched earth cool enough for them to step onto and butterflies and impressive dragonflies still populate the untouched gullies, few that they are.

There is also evidence of some regeneration in areas not too severely burned, with new green shoots already coming through.

Of course, much of the moor is depressingly damaged, with earth reduced to nothing more than deep ash fuelling impressively large and regular 'dust devils' and heavy rains will off course bring their own further problems to the area too.

A sad state but nature has its way and it will eventually get back to what it was though it will take time, in many areas, lots of time.